By Chris Ros

This young colt (born in 1981) was bought by good friend Malcom Gillies from the well-known Chip Chase Park situated in Bathurst in NSW. Malcolm was living in Kalgoorlie at the time and wanted Consort to be shown in Perth so he came to live with us. Malcolm later gave us a half share in this wonderful stallion and eventually we were able to purchase him outright.
Consort had only been viewed on a movie film and when Bill went over with the horse transport company to bring him back, he thought they had picked up the wrong horse. Consort had been in a drought situation and was going through a lean and very gangly stage. His head appeared too large for his body but we didn’t give up on him. Only a few months after his arrival in WA Malcolm wanted him shown at the All Arabian, we would have preferred not to have shown him till he was looking his best, but had to bow to Malcolm’s decision. Consort was called in first in the line-up but by the time it came for the ribbon presentations he was at the tail end. We weren’t used to the slower developing horses with Egyptian blood in them and in time Consort grew into an outstanding stallion.

Consort was by Sindbad imp Germany (by Hadban Enzahi from Sahmet – also by Hadban Enzahi) from Cherokee Nile Queen (by Silwan imp from Cherokee Royal Sarong). Silwan was a Pure Crabbet stallion and Cherokee Royal Sarong was a Silwan granddaughter with the old bloodlines of Royal Domino imp, Rakib imp, Indian Light imp and Shahzada imp combined in her pedigree.
When Consort arrived in WA, he was a pale blue colour but swiftly turned a milky white with a magnificent long, full mane & tail. At times his forelock reached past the end of his nose with his mane way down past the point of his shoulder and his tail matched up, reaching ground level. The young daughter of a friend called him the “Barbie doll horse” because of it.
The grey was dominant in his foals even though he brought the born bay colouring into our stud, all his foals were grey as were Sindbad’s. Thirty-seven foals by Consort were registered with the Arabian Horse Society of Australia, as well he had a few which were not registered at all.
The temperament of this stallion was excellent and he passed this along to his foals, along with his good conformation. Many excelling in the show ring. The most well known would be his daughter Ros Skybird (from Ros Starfire +S). Starfire was by Chip Chase Jehane +S from our Count Manilla imp mare – Scimetar Sharina +CH. Jehane himself was very closely related to Consort as his sire Cherokee Mecca was a full brother to Cherokee Nile Queen (Consort’s dam).
In 1988 Consort was judged Supreme Champion at the All Arabian Show (no such thing as Junior & Senior Supreme Champion on those days. All the Champions competed for ONE Supreme.) In 1990 Skybird emulated her sire by winning Supreme Champion at the same show. One of the horses she beat for this award was her 18 year old grand-sire – Chip Chase Jehane +S). Another feat in which his daughter followed was to win the Kadova Favoury Memorial Trophy for the most successful Purebred in “A class” in-hand events.
In 1988 at the huge All Breeds Autumn Show, held over three days, Consort won the title of Champion of Champions (all the breed champions were judged for this) on one day and then had to go back on the final day to compete against the other two Champion of Champions. What a day that was. Consort made us all very proud when he was awarded the title of Supreme Champion of All Breeds. There were over 500 horses competing on this weekend.
On the same weekend, but on the other side of the country, Consort’s full brother Chip Chase Tajar was holding up his end of the family by being judged Supreme Champion Purebred at the Victorian Classic Arabian Show.
Consort did not just compete in Purebred Arabian classes but went out & mixed with all breeds in Open competition once his ridden career started and also in some in-hand classes. John Hough rode him at the Australian Arabian Championships the only year they have been held in Perth, and was awarded a Top 5 Ridden Purebred Stallion (as well as Top 5 in-hand). Pam Costin rode him at the Royal and long time friend Pippa Glynn would come down from Geraldton on weekends just to train him. This pair had many successes, including competing in western, dressage and the normal ridden events.
I was not a show rider by any means, stock work on the station was more my idea of riding but I got my share of ribbons on Consort at the country shows.
When our stud was dispersed in 1993 Consort was sold to Harry O’Brien, well known in the field of Endurance riding. Harry had campaigned one of Consort’s Partbred sons called “Chip”. Harry & Chip covered many, many miles together (1700 kilometres in competition) and won many awards including a second Middleweight in the 1993 Tasmanian Quilty Gold Cup. Consort started a new endeavour with Harry and became a qualified Endurance horse.
The family descending from Consort continues to grow as the years pass. They are still out there competing and winning in the show ring and in endurance.
Consort was put to sleep in January of 2006.

Achievements < Click